Guillermo Del Toro's combination of cutting-edge special effects, dazzling plot, and spectacular scenery make for an explosive good time

Rating: 9/10 (17 August 2017)

The best way to describe this science-fiction action piece would be a cross between 'Transformers' and 'Godzilla'. And when adding the ingredients of eye-feasting special effects, a solid plot, and Guillermo Del Toro's cutting-edge visual compulsion, your final product is an explosively entertaining thrill ride that works in more ways than one. Guillermo Del Toro, the man who gifted us with cinematic hits such as 'Pan's Labyrinth', 'Hellboy' and its sequel, knows how to keep things and does so in many ways many directors of both of the action and sci-fi genre neglect nowadays. And that is establishing a firmly even balance of explosive action set pieces and visual integrity while not letting lose on the film's narrative standpoint. His vision of giant robots battling toe-to-toe against a hideous Godzilla-like monsters work in a way that allows moviegoers to admire his dazzling directorial style while shoving popcorn in their mouths as the explosive scenery that fires on screen. There is a lot to be experienced from witnessing the major cities crumbled on a grand scale in the heat of a battle between two giant monsters fighting head-to-head, more so than just watching things go BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! This film centers around a world between the human race and an enormous alien creature known as the Kaiju who has launched an invasion that has devastated millions of lives across the lives. With mankind on the brink of extinction, its last line of defense comes at the hands of former pilot Raleigh Becket (played by Charlie Hunnam) and an inexperience pilot Maki Mori (played by Rinko Kikuchi) who arm themselves inside a giant mechanical mecha known as the Jaeger in attempt to defeat the Kaiju, with Marshal Stacker Pentecost (played by Idris Alba) in command.
Unlike filmmakers like Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich, Guillermo Del Toro doesn't believe in soaking the audiences with explosive shock and awe factor with cutting-edge special effects, he also injects a heart the midst of the action. This includes blessing the characters with an arc and supporting the action with a story that firmly makes sense. In return, the film holds a gift with more than an escapist action extravaganza. Over his past works, Del Toro boasted an solid visual methodology that can only be described as unforgettable, and his style makes his return back here, only without the macabre sort of look demonstrated in 'Pan's Labyrinth'. The main military base where all the non-action takes place is beautiful look at, sporting a dazzling futuristic look. But, unsurprisingly, it is the sequences in which the two main characters Raleigh and Mako step into the Jaegers and battle against the Kaiju that marks the film's peaks. The big action sequence surrounding the destruction of downtown Hong Kong is electrifying and makes for a nice treat for the action junkies to snack on. Building exploding and disintegrating into a million pieces, what is there not to be fond about? And it is thanks to cinematographer Guillermo Navarro who captures the action with stellar integrity and not with the vexing quick cuts and shaky cam to obscure the heat of the action. Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi on the other hand, turn in some okay performances. But they are definitely no match for Idris Alba who stands with not only at the best performance in the crowd but the most solid character arc. Hunman and Kikuchi, however, are at least more tolerable than Charlie Day as the spastic scientist showers who's jittery behavior grows less an less funny as the film goes on, and Ron Perlman who serves as the supporting comic relief but is given very little to do. It comes show though, that not everyone is in for the gold.
Pacific Rim is a thrillingly entertaining sci-fi action vehicle helmed by the intriguing directorial efforts of Guillermo Del Toro and his gift for visual spectacle and patent for feeding the audiences for an engaging collage of special-effects action with a heart and soul. This film does not aim for anything groundbreaking, but that doesn't matter because as a whole, the film is a lot of fun.